Raptors of Ohio: Conservation in Action - with Louie Andres and Amanda Vanderford

Ohio skies are home to powerful predators, but on the ground, raptors face serious threats. In this episode of Our Rich Land, we talk with Amanda Vanderford Curator of Birds for the Ohio Bird Sanctuary and Louis Andres, former naturalist program specialist for MWCD and current Public Works Director for Mansfield, about efforts to protect Ohio’s vultures, kestrels, ospreys, and other birds of prey. Learn about the challenges these raptors face and how you can help support their future.

Bird Nerd Resources

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Musical Talent

Permission was generously granted for the use of the following tracks: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz (our theme), and "A Brand New Start", "Confident Kurt", "Walk Through the Park", "A Night Alone", "Sunday", "Blue Ribbons", and "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe.

In this episode we sit down with the Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Brian Baldridge, to discuss ODA’s mission, their diverse responsibilities and Director Baldridge’s journey into leadership. He also shares advice for Ohio farmers, reflects on his favorite farm memories and talks about the department’s role in supporting Ohio fairs.

Resources

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Musical Talent

Permission was generously granted for the use of the following tracks: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz (our theme), and "A Brand New Start", "Confident Kurt", "Walk Through the Park", "A Night Alone", "Sunday", "Blue Ribbons", and "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe.

Wondering where your food comes from? Walt Bonham, founder of The Food Lab LLC and founding member of The Richland County Grow Op, has answers! In this episode, we dig into urban gardening, food security, perennial crop systems and how community driven efforts are transforming access to fresh food.

Garden Nerd Resources

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Musical talent

Permission was generously granted for the use of the following tracks: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz (our theme), and "A Brand New Start", "Confident Kurt", "Walk Through the Park", "A Night Alone", "Sunday", "Blue Ribbons", and "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe.

The anticipation is over - pollinators part 2 is here! In this episode we continue our conversation with Marne Titchenell, Program Director for Wildlife at OSU Extension. Join us as we explore the ingredients of pollinator habitat, learn about pollinator species many aren’t aware of and more!

Episode Resources

For further information

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Music

Permission was generously granted for the use of the following tracks:

“Run One Down” by Dan Lebowitz

“Squirm Worm”, “Jane Street”, and “Easy Stroll” by Track Tribe

Thank you!

In this episode, we recap Richland SWCD's big year of 2023 - our 75th anniversary! To mark the occasion, you will hear from District employees, supervisors, and partners past and present. It was also a big year for other reasons. Listen to find out more!

NERD SECTION!!! (We love conservation nerds)

1) Visit the page on our website for more on Richland SWCD history: https://richlandswcd.net/about-us/mission-vision-and-history/

2) Take a look at our archive of historical district photos: https://richlandswcd.net/about-us/reminisce/

3) The watershed map that Matt Christian mentioned: https://richlandswcd.net/stormwater-drainage/watersheds-of-richland-county/

4) More on the USDA-NRCS programs that Jason Ruhl mentioned: https://richlandswcd.net/agriculture/usda-nrcs-programs/

Contact Us!

2) Richland SWCD: https://richlandswcd.net/, call 419-747-8686

3) Kingwood Center Gardens: https://kingwoodcenter.org/

Music

Permission was generously granted for the use of the following tracks: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz (our theme), and "A Brand New Start", "Confident Kurt", "Walk Through the Park", "A Night Alone", "Sunday", "Blue Ribbons", and "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe. 

We're back! And we have quite the show for you. In this episode, we are honored to be in the presence of Marne Titchenell, Program Director for Wildlife at OSU Extension. She chairs the Pollinator Right-of-Way committee which was instrumental in creating pollinator habitat on OSU Mansfield's campus. What's that? You'll find out! Plus, what are pollinators, what do we rely on them for, and how can we save them from going the way of the dodo? All this and more as Our Rich Land continues to bring you stories and insight on conservation in our small corner of Ohio. 

NERD SECTION!!! (We love conservation nerds)

1) Read more on the pollinator plots at OSU Mansfield: https://u.osu.edu/monarchplot/

2) Discover the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative: https://www.ohiopollinator.org/

3) Pollinator Partnership: https://www.pollinator.org/

4) The Xerxes Society for Invertebrate Conservation: https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/about-pollinators

Contact Us!

1) Marne Titchenell: https://senr.osu.edu/our-people/marne-titchenell

2) Richland SWCD: https://richlandswcd.net/, call 419-747-8686

3) Kingwood Center Gardens: https://kingwoodcenter.org/

Music

Permission was generously granted for the use of the following tracks: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz, and "Squirm Worm", "Jane Street", and "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe. 

Have you ever noticed that you flush your toilet with the same water that come out of your tap? Have you ever wondered why you pay someone to take away yard waste and then pay for fertilizer? Have you ever wanted to not water your yard so much? Then this episode is especially for you. "The problem is the solution" is a simple conceptual phrase coined by Bill Mollison, the Australian co-creator of the modern Permaculture movement. Often if we take the time to think about it our natural resource problems can often be solutions, either to the problem itself or to another problem that we have. Still confused? Hopefully we explain it a little better in the episode! We also discuss why this concept is important and relevant for natural resource conservation. 

 LINKS!!!

1) Special thanks to News 5 Cleveland for allowing us to use a an audio clip from their broadcast of the June 2022 tornado in Richland County! The broadcast was posted to their website here: Richland County Tornado - News 5 Cleveland

2) Bill Mollison's first book was written with David Holmgren, and was entitled: Permaculture One: A Perennial Agriculture for Human Settlements. He also wrote a handful of other informational books on permaculture. 

3) To learn more about permaculture online, you can explore permaculture's key principles here, and read some common definitions and concepts relating to permaculture here, and read the article the article that Josh quotes from here.

4) Visit our websites! Richland SWCD's Residential Programs & Kingwood Center Gardens

MUSIC

Permission was generously given to use the following tracks! "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz, and "A Brand New Start" and "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe

Actually, it really does all go downhill from Richland County...water, that is. Why? Well, listen in to Josh and Evan as they explore the concept of a watershed and what's unique about Richland County's water drainage (hint: there is a continental divide involved!). They also discuss basic water conservation principles for any site (including your home), and why that's important to watershed health. Additionally, Evan talks to Dan Herrold again (an SWCD technician) about some of the success stories he has seen for rain garden and rain barrel installations. With a few more fun and informative segments weaved in, this episode seeks to help you understand the principles and importance of watersheds and their stewardship.

LINKS

1) USGS Huc Map: https://water.usgs.gov/wsc/map_index.html

2) What the Heck is a HUC?: https://www.tfma.org/blogpost/1861890/348671/What-the-Heck-is-a-HUC

3) RSWCD interactive maps

- Watersheds of Richland County: https://richlandswcd.net/stormwater-drainage/watersheds-of-richland-county/

- Water Data Map: https://richlandswcd.net/stormwater-drainage/water-data-map/

- Continental Divide Tour: https://richlandswcd.net/stormwater-drainage/stormwater/continental-divide-tour/

4) RSWCD Rainbarrel/Raingarden Pages: https://richlandswcd.net/residential/programs/#rain-gardens

5) USGS Science In Your Watershed Tool: https://water.usgs.gov/wsc/

6) USEPA How’s My Waterway: https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/hows-my-waterway

Richland SWCD’s (NEW) website!: https://richlandswcd.net/

RSWCD's Phone #: 419-747-8686

Kingwood’s Website: https://kingwoodcenter.org/

MUSIC

We have been generously granted permission to use the music in this podcast by the artists who made it. Songs used are: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz (our theme music), "Smokey's Lounge" & "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe.

Thanks for listening!

We have three special guests this time and a jam packed episode all about stormwater management! We talk extensively with Mark Rufener (PE, CPESC, CPSWQ) from K.E. McCartney & Associates (a local engineering firm) regarding "The Gateway Project", Kingwood Center Garden's capital plan to create a new garden entrance and visitor experience, completed in the last few years. As part of this plan, Kingwood integrated several stormwater BMPs (Best Management Practices) into the new visitor center and parking lot. Mark Rufener is a professional in stormwater infrastructure engineering and management and played a large part in the design of these BMPs. He also worked closely with another Mark (Hoover) who is Kingwood's lead horticulturalist (translating as "plant wizard"). Mark Hoover was in charge of selecting the plant material to be used in some of the BMPs, because as you'll discover, plants play a critical role in stormwater management. Additionally, Evan caught up with Dan Herrold who is another technician at Richland SWCD. Dan heads up the MS4 program there, which ties into what we talk about in the rest of the episode. So, sit back and enjoy!

LINKS!!!

Kingwood's Interactive Map: https://kingwoodcenter.org/kiosk/garden-gateway/

North East Ohio Rain Garden Manual: www.geaugaswcd.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/2013_RainGardenManual_GeaugaSWCD.2762917.pdf

North East Ohio Master/Professional Rain Gardener Certification: https://neomasterraingardener.org/

Richland SWCD's Stormwater resources

- General: https://richlandswcd.net/services/water/stormwater

- Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels: https://richlandswcd.net/services/water/rain-gardens

- Do I need a Stormwater Permit? https://richlandswcd.net/services/do-i-need-a-permit

- Interactive Richland Co Watershed Map: https://richlandswcd.net/services/water/watersheds-of-richland-county

- Water Quality Data Map for Richland Co: https://richlandswcd.net/services/water/water-data-map

More on Best Management Practices:

- https://richlandswcd.net/services/water/stormwater/epa-best-practice

- https://sswcd.summitoh.net/sites/default/files/2019-01/Post%20Construction%20O%26M.pdf

OUR WEBSITES/PHONE NUMBERS

K.E. McCartney & Associates: https://kemccartney.com/

Richland Soil & Water Conservation District: 419-747-8686 | https://richlandswcd.net/

Kingwood Center Gardens: https://kingwoodcenter.org/

MUSIC

We have been generously granted permission to use the music in this podcast by the artists who made it. Songs used are: "Run One Down" by Dan Lebowitz (our theme music), "Busy City" & "Easy Stroll" by TrackTribe.

Farming is also an art. Ask any farmer. But there is more than meets the eye when you drive past a corn field. Agronomy, the science of producing crops, is the topic of this episode. We asked Jordan Miller, an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture: Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), all of our burning questions, including those on soil, agriculture technology, and how the NRCS fosters healthy ecosystems and ensures productive farms, simultaneously.  

Links to more information!

1) The book that Josh mentioned: "Water for Every Farm", by P.A. Yeomans

2) Richland SWCD's website "Agriculture" page, with local SWCD and NRCS resources: https://richlandswcd.net/services/agriculture

3) NRCS's about page: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/about/

4) Agronomy.org: https://www.agronomy.org/about-agronomy/

5) About conservation agriculture: http://conservationagriculture.mannlib.cornell.edu/pages/aboutca/advantages.html

Richland County's NRCS district office phone #: 419-747-8691

Richland SWCD's website and phone #: 419-747-8686 | www.richlandswcd.net

Kingwood Center Garden's website: www.kingwoodcenter.org

Music:

Music permissions for tracks used in this and all of our episodes was generously granted by the artists. Special thanks to Dan Lebowitz, whose "Run One Down" is our theme song. Also thanks to TrackTribe for the other tracks used in our program ("Running Errands" & "Easy Stroll")